Chapter 21: Night Hunt

The following night, Jiahai and Zen headed toward the forest located on campus. It was a walled off area with thick trees the deeper one went in. there was only a single entrance, which could be accessed by someone who had the Academy’s emblem on them, so it was paramount the one did not lose their emblem.

“I don’t understand why we have to bring our archery stuff,” Zen said, fiddling with the strap of his quiver.

“Hey, hunting is a good way to practice our archery skills.” Jiahai sending, testing his bow string. “If we’re going to get an approval, we need to work at it.”

“Getting enough approvals is important to you, huh?”

“It isn’t for you?”

“…it-it is. It’s just that… you talk about it so much.”

Jiahai looked down sadly. “It’s because my family has fallen on hard times. We may lose our stauts amongst the noble families, so it’s up to me and my brothers to work hard and bring our family name up again.”

“Oh,” was all Zen could say.

Shibi raced past their feet, heading for the entrance of the forest. It was immediately repelled when it got to the arch entrance, causing the boys to laugh.

“Shibi, come here.” Zen offered his hand, which Shibi climbed on. “If you stay on my shoulder, then you should be able to enter with me.”

Sure enough, Shibi was able to enter along with the two boys. As soon as the ape was in, it climbed the trees and jumped from branch to branch playfully.

In no time, they spotted a Stem Antelope some distance away. The boys both took aim at the grazing beast, oblivious to their presence. They both fired their arrows! Both arrows sped across the air, one hitting a tree while the other landed on the ground, both no where near their target. The Viny Antelope stiffened before bounding away.

“Archery sucks!” Zen said, tempted to break his bow over his knee.

“Calm down, Wang Zen. We’ll get the hang of it and if we don’t, we’ll use our knives and qi…”

Zen noticed his friend’s stop. “Chu Jiahai? Is there something wrong?”

Jiahai pointed at the Ragged Jackal coming before them. “Both boys stiffened, trying to manoeuvre out from the growling jackals path. They stopped, as another appeared from the side. Standinging back to back, the boys faced off against the two Ragged Jackals with their teeth bared.